Kellerwald-Edersee National Park – for active holidays and water-based fun

With its lake, its beautiful upland scenery and its ancient beech forests that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts and nature lovers.

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This region in northern Hessen, whose ancient beech forests have only recently been awarded World Natural Heritage status by UNESCO, is one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany for walking, cycling and water sports. Rarely do you find an area that offers such a wealth of outdoor pursuits.

Leisure activities on the lake

The crystal-clear waters of Lake Edersee shimmer like a jewel at the heart of the national park. This 27km lake offers everything holidaymakers could wish for. Swimmers can head for the beaches, sailors and windsurfers can venture out on the water and cyclists can trace the shoreline on the well-maintained Eder Cycle Route. There are secluded bays for fishing and picturesque lakeside promenades for relaxing.

A sea of beech trees

Lake Edersee is surrounded by more than 50 hills, which are covered by a sea of beech trees covering almost 6,000 hectares. If you walk through this area on the well-marked trails, you'll discover idyllic valley glades and meandering streams, large-leaved lime trees and ancient oaks, deep gorges with ash and mountain elm, orchid-filled meadows and carpets of cheddar pinks.

The most beautiful wilderness in the world

If you venture even further into the national park on the Edersee Forest Walk, you'll discover its wild and untamed side. This area is home to black storks, grey-headed woodpeckers, wild boars and 14 different species of bat. At Edersee wildlife park, you can get up close to wild animals that were once native to the area such as wolves and wild horses.